Rotatable stop light



July 17, 1962 M. Q. TIBERIO 3,045,208

ROTATABLE STOP LIGHT Filed April 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mario 0.fiber/'0 INVENTOR.

BY QMM Wavy FM July 17, 1962 M. Q. TIBERIO ROTATABLE STOP LIGHT 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1961 Mario 0. fiber/'0 INVENTOR. waoifih.WW EMA M Q. TIBERIO ROTATABLE STOP LIGHT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 8

Maria 0. Tiber/a INVENTOR. 40%. W

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BY and July 17, 1962 Filed April 5, 1961 l 27 9 nfllv ia A M m 8 UnitedStates Patent ,Oflice 3,045,208 Patented July 17, 1

3,045,208 ROTATABLE STOP LIGHT Mario Q. Tiber-lo, 722 Chambers Ave.,Jeannette, Pa., assignor of one-half to Amalia Tiberio, Jeannette, Pa.Filed Apr. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 100,944 3 Claims. (Cl. 340-107) Thisinvention relates to signal devices, and more particularly to a stoplight for controlling traflic by means of changing colors.

It is another object of my invention to provide a traffic signalcontrolled by a rotatable disk having a plurality of colored lensestherein which is rotated by an intermittent positive drive mechanism,thereby eliminating the complicated control mechanism used inconventional stop lights.

It is another object of my invention to provide an intermittent drivefor a rotatable disc-type stop light wherein the disc is positivelymaintained in one set positionwhen not being driven.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a mechanicallydriven stop light mechanism for changing colors on a stop light which isso constructed that the stop light may be stopped on a preselected colorand the light therefor caused to blink for as long as desired.

It is still yet another object of my invention to provide a traflicsignal driven by mechanical means which will operate to produceconventional signals, that is, a green signal for a predetermined lengthof time, then a brief yellow signal, and then a red signal for apredetermined length of time, after which the cycle reverses itself andthen a blinking yellow signal is produced after which a green signal isgiven for a predetermined length of time.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a traflic signalwhich is relatively simple in design, and therefore economical tomanufacture, reliable in use, and requires a minimum of maintenance.

- These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to theaccornpanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGUREJ is a perspective view of a completed traffic signal employing byinvention;

FIGURE 2'is an enlarged cross sectional vertical view of the upperportion of the tratfic signal shown in FIG- URE l and takensubstantially on the plane of line 22 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 2,with parts thereof shown in section;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the holding wheel shown inFIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of a Wiring diagram that may be employedby my invention;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view partially in cross section similar toFIGURE 2 but showing amodification;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 6 partially in crosssection; and

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on theplane of line 8-8 in FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, it can be seen that my stoplight is mounted in a cylindrical housing 10 fixed to the upper end of avertically extending post 12. The front of the housing 10 is closed by acircular integral disc 14 having a circular hole 16 at its upper centralportion. The back of the housing 10 in a circular opening 18 formed bythe inner edge of an inwardly extending annular flange 20. The flangeand opening are covered by circular plate 22.,which is removably securedto the flange 20 by means of screws .24 threaded into apertures in theflange.

drives a central motor drive shaft 30 having a worm gear 7 32 formed onits outer end.

Extending substantially radially downwardlyfromthe inner periphery ofthe housing 10 is a pair of support arms 34 spaced axially flrom oneanother, and substantially parallel. Rotatable within two axiallyaligned bores in the lower ends of the arms 34 is a gear shaft 36Secured to the gear shaft 36 between the arms 34'and adjacent oppositeends of the shaft 36 are a toothed gear 38 meshing with the worm gear 32and a holding wheel 40 having an axially extending trip pin 42 fixed tothe side surface of an outwardly extending projection 44. The holdingwheel 40 comprises a circular plate 46 which is bulged outwardly'surface of the housing 10 at its back edge and extends directlyupwardly therefrom and has a bore 54 in its upper end. The front wall 14of the housing also has a bore 56 therein of the same size as the bore54 and axially aligned therewith. A shaft 58 is journaled in the bores54 and 56 for rotation and has a trip wheel fixed thereto by means ofits flange62. I

As shown in FIGURE 3, the trip wheel 60 is in radial alignment with thegap 50 in flange 48 and is axially spaced slightly from the plate 46. p

The body of the trip wheel 60 comprises four lugs 64 spaced 90 from oneanother and connected by .four a'rcuate portions 66. Each of theradially extending lugs 64 has a radial slot 68 formed in its center.As'shown in FIGURE 2, the uppermost vertically extending slot 68 islocated and designed to receive the pin 42 of the holding wheel.

Also secured to the forward end of the shaft 5-8 by means of a flange 70and setscrew 72 is 'a circularsignal wheel 74 having "a plurality ofannular flanges 76 ro,

jecting rearwardly from its rear surface and enclosing a plurality ofbores 78 extending through the signal wheel.

As illustrated-in FIGURE 2, there are eight a nun flanges 76 surroundingeight bores 78 in the periphery of the signal wheel 74. Mounted in eachflange 76 by means of conventional snap rings, not shown, is asemi-transparent colored lens. As shown in FIGURE 2, two of the lensesare red as indicated by-R spaced 180 aparfl two are green as indicatedby G also spacedl80 apartjand on r i v a diametrical line which isperpendicular to the diametrical line between the lenses R, and thereare four yellow lenses apart and indicated bythe letterY. .As shown inFIGURE 2,'one of the lenses Y is directlybehind the gear 38 andtherefore is not shown;

Mounted in the upper portionof the housing 10 andin axial alignment withthe hole 16 is a conventional electric .light bulb 80 which is connectedto'a source of electricity .by means of a conductor 82.

of an a a 28 to the insulated wires 82 and 84 which are connected to aconventional 60-cycle source of electricity.

The switch elements 88 and 90 are connected to the terminals of themotor 28 by means of the conductors 92 and 94. When the switch elements88 and 90 are closed, the light 80 is also energized by means ofconductors 96, 82, and conductor 82. When it is desired to operate thesignal as a blinker or caution light only, the aperture 16 is alignedwith the appropriate colored disk, such as yellow or red and the switchelements 88 and 90 are opened after which the switch element 98 isclosed. This cuts oif the motor 28 but maintains a current through thebulb 80 by means of conductor 84, switch element 98, conductor 100,blinker switch 102, conductor 82', bulb 80, and conductor 82.

The blinker switch 102 is conventional, and opens and closesautomatically at rapid intervals so as to cause the bulb 80 to give ablinking light.

In operation, the three-way switch 86 is normally operated so as toclose the contacts 88 and 90 for energizing the motor 28 and the bulb 80for continuous operation. The holding wheel 40 and its trip pin 42 arerotated at a predetermined constant speed by means of the shaft 36, gear38, worm gear 32, shaft 30 and motor 28. As shown in FIGURE 2, theholding wheel 40 and gear 38 are rotating in a counterclockwisedirection. The signal wheel 74 has its upper lens R aligned with thehole 16 so as to give a red or stop signal. The trip pin 42 is alsorotating in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft 36, and asshown is just beginning to enter the upper vertically extending slots68. The mating of the pin 42 and upper slot 68 causes the trip wheel 60to rotate in a clockwise direction as the pin 42 moves downwardly intothe slot. As the trip wheel 60 begins to rotate clockwise, the lug 64containing the pin gradually begins to project into the gap 50 throughthe circular wall or flange 48. Further movement of the pin 42 and thelugs receiving the pin causes the lug to withdraw from the gap 50 untilthe pin is moved 90 from its position shown in FIGURE 2 whereupon itleaves the slot after having rotated the trip wheel 60, 90 in aclockwise position. As the wheel 60 was rotating through its 90 angle,the upper left yellow lens Y was moved between the bulb 80 and hole 16so as to give a flashing yellow signal and after the 90 movement wascompleted the left green disc G is stopped between the bulb and thehole. After the 90 movement is completed, the arcuate flange 48 movesinto the arcuate recess 66 thereby preventing trip wheel 60 fromrotating or moving until the holding wheel 40 has moved an additional270 so as to return the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. During this270 movement of the holding wheel, the trip wheel 60 maintains the greenlens G in alignment with the opening 60 for maintaining a go signal.After this 270 movement is completed, the trip pin 42 enters thenextadjacent slot 68 thereby rotating the signal wheel 74 through a 90 angleso as to flash the lower left yellow lens Y and stop and maintain thelower red lens R in alignment between the bulb 80 and the hole 16 so asto give a red or stop signal for a predetermined time. The cycle is thenrepeated using the lenses on the right side of the signal wheel 72 andthen the entire process is repeated over and over again until the motor28 is cut off by switch 86.

However, as explained above, the switch 86 may be operated so as tocut-off the motor 28 and to energize the bulb 80 by means of the blinkerswitch 102. This causes the bulb 80 to give a blinking signal since itis constantly cutting on and off. The color of the signal seen throughthe opening 16 due to the blinking of the bulb may be determined bystopping the appropriate or selected colored lens of the signal wheel inalignment with the opening 16.

The housing 10 has a hollow arcuate bulge 106 for accommodating theholding wheel 40. i

In the modification shown in FIGURES 6 through 8, parts identical to themodification shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 are given identical numberswhile slightly modified parts are given identical numbers with a primeadded thereto.

In the modification, the housing 10' is box-like and rectangular incross section and has a removable lid 108 which may be secured in placeby screws, not shown. The motor 28 is secured to the floor 116 byconventional means such as screws, not shown, and has a drive shaft 30with worm gear 32 on its outer end. A vertical support arm 110 extendsupwardly from the central portion of the floor 116 and has an aperturein its upper end which rotatably supports the shaft 36' which in turnhas its rear end journalled in an aperture in the back wall 114 of thehousing 10'. A gear 38 is fixed to the central portion of the shaft 36'by means of a hub 39' which may have a setscrew, not shown, extendingtherethrough and engaging the shaft. The forward end of the shaft 36'has a drive wheel 112 fixed thereto. The trip wheel 60' has a pluralityof lugs 64' which has radially extending slots 68' extending inwardlyfrom their outer edges.- The drive wheel 112 has a trip pin 42' fixedthereto adjacent an outer edge thereof.

A shaft 58 is rotatably supported in the forward and rear walls of thehousing =10 and has fixed thereto at its central portion a trip wheel60' by means of the trip wheel arm 62'. A signal wheel 74' is fixed tothe forward end of the shaft 58' and has a plurality of lenses arrangedtherein in the same manner as illustrated in FIGURE 2 for the firstdescribed form.

A ratchet mechanism 118 is fixed to the forward wall of the housing 10'and the shaft 58. The ratchet or detent mechanism 118 comprises anannular hub 120 secured by a spline 122 to the shaft 38' and a plunger124 retained on the front of the housing 10' for vertical up and downmovement. The plunger 124 has an integral radially extending annularflange 128 at its mid-portion engaged by the lower end of a compressioncoil spring 130. The plunger 124 is guided for reciprocal up and downmovement in a housing 132 whose upper end also acts as an abutment forthe coil spring The coil spring 130 urges the lower rounded end 134 ofthe plunger into engagement with one of the recesses 126 on the outerperiphery of the hub 120 for holding the hub and signal Wheel in aposition whereby one of the lenses in the signal wheel is retained inalignment with the hole 16.

The operation of the form shown in FIGURES 6 through 8 is substantiallythe same as the operation of the form shown in FIGURES 2 through 4. Inboth forms shown in the drawings, the drive wheel 112 and holding wheel40 may rotate the trip wheels in either direction, that is assuming thatthe motor 28 may drive them in either direction. When the drive wheel112 rotates through a full revolution, its trip pin 42' is engagedwithin one of the slots 68 of the trip wheel 60 during onequarter of therevolution so as to rotate the trip wheel one-quarter turn or 90 afterwhich the trip pin 42' leaves the slot 68 and the detent plunger 124engages the appropriate recess 126 for holding the trip wheel 60' andthe signal wheel 74, in a stationary position after they have beenrotated for a quarter of a turn. The ratchet or detent mechanism 118 inetfect functions as an intermittent overload release brake since itbrakes the shaft 58', trip wheel 60, and signal wheel 74 only when therounded end 134 of the plunger 124 is engaged in one of the rececesses126. However, when the trip pin 42' initially engages one of the slots68', the torque produced by the motor 28 in rotating the hub 120 causesthe rounded end 134 of the plunger to be cammed radially outwardly ofthe recess and to ride on the circular periphery of the hub until thehub has been rotated substantially 90 whereupon it is braked again. InFIGURE 8, four additional or excess recesses 126 have been shown forlocking the signal wheel 74 in position where one of the yellow lenses Yis aligned with the hole 16, however, these four additional recesses maybe omitted if desired.

The duration of an operating cycle for the stop light F, W a.

may be varied by changing the gear ratio of the gears for driving thesignal wheel, or else a non-synchronous speed controlled motor may besubstituted for the synchronous motor 28.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A traffic signal device comprising an enclosed housing having face,back and side portions, a signal wheel rotatably secured juxtaposed theinner surface of the face portion about a horizontal axis secured to theface portion and adjacent the back portion of the housing, a pluralityof equal size colored translucent signal members spaced about theperiphery of the wheel, a single aperture in the face portion of thehousing of equal size with a single signal member and positioned forselectively exposing one of said signal members at a time upon rotationof the signal wheel, an artificial light source secured to the housingand located directly behind the signal wheel in alignment with theaperture in the face portion, the translucent signal members comprisingtwo red members, two green members and four yellow members, each redmember being spaced 180 apart, each green member spaced 180 apart on aline perpendicular to the red signal members, and each yellow memberlocated directly between a red member and a green member, motor meansmounted in the housing, a drive shaft on said motor means, a worm gearat its outer end meshing with a gear mounted on an axis parallel to thesignal wheel axis and secured to the housing, a holding wheel mounted onthe gear axis in driving contact with a trip wheel mounted on the signalwheel axis, thereby forming a Geneva mechanism for automaticintermittent movement of the signal wheel, a three-way switch meansconnecting the artificial light source and motor means to a source ofelectricity, and a blinker switch connected to the three-way switchmeans whereby said three-way switch means can alternatively be operatedto provide a steady 'light source and rotating signal wheel or ablinking light source and a stationary signal wheel. a

2. A device as defined in claim 1 including an intermittent overloadrelease brake mechanism comprising a detent mechanism secured to thesignal wheel axis and a plunger mounted on the housing and forced intocontact with the detent mechanism by operation of a compression spring.7

3. A traffic signal device comprising an enclosed housing having face,back and side portions, a signal wheel rotatably secured juxtaposed theinner surface of the face portion about a horizontal axis secured to theface portion and adjacent the back portion of the housing, a pluralityof equal size colored translucent signal members spaced about theperiphery of the wheel, a single aperture in the face portion of thehousing of equal size with a single signal member and positioned forselectively exposing one of said signal members at a time upon rotationof i the signal wheel, an artificial light source secured to the housingand located directly behind the signal wheel in alignment with theaperture in the face portion, the translucent signal members comprisingtwo red members, two green members and four yellow members, each redmember being spaced apart, each green member spaced 180 apart on a lineperpendicular to the red signal members, and each yellow member locateddirectly between a red member and a green member, motor means mounted inthe housing and drivingly connected to the signal wheel for automaticintermittent movement thereof, a three-way switch means connecting theartificial light source and motor means to a source of electricity, ablinker switch connected to the three-way switch means whereby saidthree way switch means can alternatively be operated to provide a steadylight source and rotating signal wheel or a blinking light source and astationary signal wheel, an intermittent overload release brakemechanism comprising a detent mechanism secured to the signal wheel axisand a plunger mounted on the housing and forced into contact with thedetent mechanism by operation of a compression spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 479,400Canada Dee. 11, 1951

